East Cobb News

Former Pope softball star Kelly Barnhill to appear at Greyhounds’ game Friday

August 14, 2018 1:21 PM by Wendy Parker

Fresh off a Team USA performance that resulted in Olympic qualification, former Pope softball star Kelly Barnhill will be making a homecoming visit on Friday.

Kelly Barnhill, former Pope softball star

The University of Florida pitching standout will appear at the Greyhounds’ home game on Friday against Sequoyah.

The game starts at 6 p.m. and admission is free. Barnhill will be throwing out the first pitch, meeting fans and signing autographs.

Barnhill, who led Pope to its first Georgia state championship in 2014, was part of the U.S. team that last week repeated as world champions. That resulted in an automatic berth for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Olympic softball is returning after being dropped in 2008. Barnhill has been a gold medalist for Team USA in the 2016 and now 2018 world championship tournaments.

Here’s what she posted on social media after the Americans’ victory in Japan over the weekend:

Even after softball was taken out of the Olympics after 2008, I refused to give up on my dream of representing my country on the world’s largest stage. Now 10 years later, we are qualified for Tokyo 2020. Dreams do come true! The real work begins now. #RoadtoTokyo2020 https://t.co/MwYX6UWoXa

— Kelly Barnhill (@kkatlyn111) August 14, 2018

She will be a senior at Florida, where she has been an All-American and in 2017 was the national college player of the year.

The Greyhounds, who were playing Cambridge at home on Tuesday, have started the season with a 1-1 record. They also play at Chattahoochee on Thursday before the Friday game honoring Barnhill.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Series on Cobb County growth issues misses the mark

January 1, 2022 1:00 PMAugust 14, 2018 6:06 AM by Wendy Parker

Ebenezer Road park preview, Cobb growth issues — *Cobb commissioners spent $1.7 million this year to buy Ebenezer Road property for a future passive park. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)*

Last week a national organization that examines municipal and local governance concerns published a series of posts about Cobb County growth issues, especially in the years since the recession.

The organization is called Strong Towns, which I have not heard of before. It describes itself as a non-profit media organization that’s based in Brainerd, Minn., a small town with a population of 13,000 or so, not close to a metropolitan area.

On Tuesdays I like to focus on local government, since that’s when many Cobb Board of Commissioners meetings take place. Today’s meeting has been cancelled, and I thought I’d delve a little into this interesting, but flawed examination.

The five-part Strong Towns report, which has gotten some chatter on Cobb citizens social media groups, refers to Cobb as “a suburban region that epitomizes the folly of going into debt to build more and more infrastructure with no ability to pay for it.”

Cobb growth issues — *Condominiums along Powers Ferry Road are part of a high-density community spreading out from SunTrust Park.*

While that’s certainly how many locals around here feel about what’s happening in the county, I think the premise is faulty, and I’m skeptical of some of the claims made in this report.

Strong Towns misses one of the biggest points of all: Cobb remains a very attractive magnet for jobs because of its diversified economy and a well-educated workforce, the partial byproduct of another major attraction here, excellent public schools.

Cobb isn’t as “addicted to growth,” as the initial post is titled, as much as new residents and employers are continuously drawn by quality services and low taxes. A heavy pipeline of development bottled up during the lean years of the recession is taking shape.

These realities were not examined by Strong Towns, but I will link to all the posts in this series so you can read for yourself:

In an evergreen post elsewhere on its site, Strong Towns claims that many cities and counties in America are falling for a “Growth Ponzi Scheme,” which it further asserts as “the dominant model of suburban growth since the mid-20th century.”

The final post about Cobb started off with a reference to Bernie Madoff, who’s serving prison time for defrauding investors.

Really? To try to make a link between criminal behavior and the development and financial issues of a bustling suburban county, albeit one with major budget problems, borders on being irresponsible, as well as willfully misunderstanding.

I will always detest the Atlanta Braves stadium deal because the process was a total sham. But that doesn’t explain the county’s budget, tax and spending issues, which go back many years.

The county wasn’t chasing growth as much as it wasn’t sufficiently funding the growth that was already here or on the way, or was having trouble keeping up with the pace of the growth.

(Here’s a good example: When our family moved to East Cobb in the early 1970s, our home was still on septic tank, with the Sope Creek sewer line still under construction.)

There is an anti-suburban sentiment behind this report, and this is the biggest problem with it:

“Much of Cobb County . . . feels like nowhere. It has no center of gravity. It has no thriving urban core to serve as a tax-revenue cash cow.”

Ironically, the area around SunTrust may prove to be just such a place. Cobb does have many misplaced priorities, symbolized by the Braves deal, and which I wrote not long ago stripped away the illusion of supposedly fiscally conservative government.

Instead of really trying to understand the unique challenges facing a Sunbelt community that has gone from mostly rural to suburban and now urban in many spots, and in about a half-century or so, Strong Towns wants Cobb to be more like Brainerd, I guess (a place where I’ve never been).

From what I’ve read about this organization, it wants every place to be like small-town America, with bucolic downtown cores, pedestrian-friendly shops and restaurants and adaptable to a “traditional development pattern.”

While that sentiment does have some conservative support, and it’s appealing to me as I continue on in middle age, it has never really come about in Cobb, for better or for worse.

It’s a nice ideal, but it doesn’t offer any practical solutions. Strong Towns produced a lot of words about Cobb County but with little real local knowledge on the ground about its subject.

That matters.

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Former East Cobb attorney indicted for wire fraud, identity theft

August 13, 2018 5:52 PM by Wendy Parker

Chalmer E. “Chuck” Detling II, a former East Cobb attorney, has been indicted for allegedly obtaining fraudulent litigation advances from clients and keeping the money for himself. Chuck Detling, East Cobb attorney indicted

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta, Detling was indicted by a federal grand jury last Wednesday of seven counts of wire fraud and eight counts of aggressive identity theft. He was arraigned on Friday in federal magistrate court.

Federal prosecutors contend he used “the identities of 36 former clients without their knowledge or authorization in order to apply for and obtain 50 fraudulent litigation advances, totaling hundreds of thousands dollars.”

Detling operated the Detling Law Group at 3020 Roswell Road from 2012-2016. According to a 2015 advertorial in the EAST COBBER magazine, Detling also used the same office for the East Cobb Mediation service for divorce and elder care settlements.

Personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyers occasionally obtain litigation advances from clients for non-ligitation expenses while their cases are pending.

Atlanta U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak alleged that between October 2014 and April 2016, Detling obtained personal financial information from clients without their knowledge or permission to apply for the advances, collecting $383,000.

Prosecutors say instead of forwarding the money to clients, Detling picked up checks himself or had money for the advances wired instead to his law firm’s account.

When making the financing applications, prosecutors allege, Detling provided fake phone numbers and e-mail addresses. They also claim he submitted documents for the financing that allegedly included signatures by his clients whom he knew “had not actually executed the agreements.”

Prosectors say litigation financing entities didn’t require the clients to be present when submitting the applications or when the advances were made.

“Lawyers are supposed to assist their clients, not use their identities to commit fraud.” Pak said in a statement. “Detling allegedly violated his ethical and fiduciary duties by using his clients’ personal information to apply for litigation advances in their names.”

Detling, who was admitted to the state bar in 2004, surrendered his license in October 2016 and is no longer allowed to practice law in Georgia.

In 2012, Detling was fined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after admitting that he helped conceal a federal fraud indictment against a former client who was pursuing a municipal bond issue to purchase a casket company.

Detling also failed to disclose a $200,000 loan he made to the client, and was reprimanded by the State Bar of Georgia.

The FBI is continuing to investigate the wire fraud and identity theft case against Detling, along with the state bar, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

More courts and trials news

Woman who ran holistic clinic on Johnson Ferry Road gets 75 months for fraud

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Cobb Master Gardeners have two East Cobb events this week

August 13, 2018 4:32 PM by Wendy Parker

McFarlane Nature Park

From our calendar listings are two free events this week for green thumbs, thanks to Cobb Master Gardeners:

On Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m. is the Gardeners’ Night Out session at the East Cobb Library (4880 Lower Roswell Road), with the subject being Dahlias, including how to prepare for spring planting;

On Thursday, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. is a Native Plants Workshop at the Wright Environmental Education Center (2661 Johnson Ferry Road), with an emphasis on invasive plants that threaten them. Parking is available next door at Chestnut Ridge Christian Church.

East Cobb healthy eating advocate, shopowner pens new cookbook

August 13, 2018 6:05 AM by Wendy Parker

Smita Daya, East Cobb healthy eating advocate — *“I want you to be able to go home and cook,” says Smita Daya, co-owner of the Olea Oliva! store and author of a new cookbook of plant-based recipes. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)*

For Smita Daya, preparing a plant-based, olive oil-infused cuisine using natural herbs and spices has been a way of life. The East Cobb healthy eating advocate opened the Olea Oliva! store at The Avenue East Cobb two years ago to spread her passion for wholesome, easy-to-make dishes to those wanting to alter their own eating habits.

The shop sells more than 60 varieties of gourmet extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars, as well as spices, herbs, teas and other items that make up her “healthy eating and healthy cooking” philosophy. She also teaches classes there once a week.

“The passion for healthy cooking has always been there,” she explains.

In September, she’ll be publishing a cookbook, “An Odyssey of Flavors,” which contains many of her favorite recipes that she believes can be made easily and quickly, even for the busiest home cook.

That’s because she’s been one herself.

*An olive oil comparison chart explained by Dilip Daya, ranging from delicate to medium to robust.*

Smita and Dilip Daya, her husband and Olea Oliva! co-owner, grew up in Africa as members of families that planted, harvested and cooked their own vegetables. She left her native Zambia for an English boarding school at the age of 12. He lived on a farm in Mozambique.

When they arrived in the United States as younger adults, they brought their food habits with them, and have not wavered in passing them along.

Smita was a paralegal in the corporate world for 25 years, rising well before dawn every morning to prepare that evening’s dinner before going to work. She also made sure her now-grown daughters (both Walton High School graduates) packed homemade, healthy lunches. No cafeteria fare, but hummus dips, yogurts and salads.

The Dayas don’t eat meat, poultry or fish, although they help customers who do by offering paleo seasoning bags (no processed ingredients) specially mixed for each kind of dish.

Smita says that “it’s a lot of discipline, but it was never a question” about whether to maintain a plant-based diet.

Olea Oliva, Dilip Daya — *“Some people treat olive oil like ketchup,” says Dilip Daya, a certified olive oil sommelier. But “like wine, olives have styles” and there are more than 2,000 varietals.*

The dishes in her cookbook are all vegetarian. The only dairy products are in her homemade paneer cheese and yogurt. Sugar is used only in desserts. Very little salt is included in any recipe.

Most of all, it’s the olive oils, herbs and spices that are at the heart of her philosophy. Former neighbors now run a fresh pressed-olive farm near Florence, Italy, where the Dayas have a co-share interest.

Dilip, whose day job is as a computer engineer with a Hewlett-Packard R and D lab, visits every 18 months or so. He’s an olive oil sommelier certified by the UC-Davis Robert Mondavi Institute and is an industrial chemist.

She makes the spices on site at the store, and makes weekend rounds at local markets, including Martin’s Garden at Coleman Farms in Roswell.

“Eat better, not less,” Smita says. “It’s all about flavor, about an explosion” of tastes that burst from the recipes. They’re designed to be easy to prepare, using only a few ingredients that are readily available:

Herbaceous Kale Salad
Slow Cooker Red Lentil and Vegetable Soup
Broccoli Dal
Sorghum Pizza
Baby Stuffed Eggplant
Penne Pasta with Vegetables
Kohlrabi Masala Curry

The latter is a recipe she’ll be demonstrating at a class on Aug. 30. She said for some, the most challenging ingredient can be a commitment to cooking this way every day.

“You have to be passionate about being in the kitchen,” she said, “to be passionate about your family’s health.”

Smita, who has a certificate as a plant-based nutritionist from Cornell University, also will be doing a demonstration at the Atlanta Food Expo in September at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

“I want you to go home and be able to cook,” she said. “I love empowering people, to give them skills and tips to do healthy things.”

“An Odyssey of Flavors,” published by Atlanta-based VMH Publishing, can be preordered and will be sold on the Olea Oliva! website after Sept. 4. The store is located at 4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1000. Phone: 770-321-0099.

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East Cobb high school football teams kick season off on Friday

August 12, 2018 12:24 PM by Wendy Parker

Walton, East Cobb high school football teams — *The Walton Raiders will open their season again at the Corky Kell Classic, along with the Kell Longhorns, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (East Cobb News file photo)*

Earlier this week we reported from the East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast about what the coaches of East Cobb high school football teams had to say about their squads.

Friday scrimmages were the final tuneups as five of the six teams get started with regular season games starting this week.

On Friday, three teams will be in action. The Lassiter Trojans are playing at home against Harrison; Sprayberry plays at South Forsyth; and Wheeler visits Lambert. Kickoff times are all at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday is the return of the Corky Kell Classic, to be played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta, and it will be an early morning for the Kell Longhorns and Walton Raiders.

The Longhorns play at 9 a.m. against East Coweta, followed at 11:45 a.m. by Walton against Mill Creek. If you can’t attend, here is viewing information.

The Pope Greyhounds don’t get started until next Friday, Aug. 24, when they play at Lassiter in the first all-East Cobb game of the season.

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Ott on District 2 benefits of Cobb tax increase: ‘1 DOT work crew’

August 11, 2018 12:43 PMAugust 11, 2018 12:02 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb property tax increase, Cobb DOT maintenance crews — *Additional Cobb DOT crews will be hired to mow and maintain overgrown medians like this one at East Piedmont Road and Sewell Mill Road. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)*

Before and after a Cobb tax increase was approved by county commissioners last month, those in favor of the millage hike have touted expanded additional police officer positions and law enforcement body cameras, restored library hours and more funding to maintain county medians and rights of way.

Cobb commissioner Bob Ott, who voted against the budget in a 3-2 vote (along with JoAnn Birrell of Northeast Cobb) hasn’t said much publicly about the 1.7-mills increase, other than extended remarks he gave right before the vote.

On Friday, he published those comments (excerpted below) “because many people have asked me why I voted no.”

In his weekly newsletter, he also said he’s been asked how his District 2, which includes East Cobb, will benefit from the increase. South Cobb commissioner Lisa Cupid, who supported the tax increase, talked about the police, library and DOT funding in her newsletter to constituents, and said the 1.7-mills increase was “indeed a compromise.”

Cobb property tax increase, commissioner Bob Ott — *Commissioner Bob Ott has said the county’s FY 2018 budget reminds him of SPLOST 2016, “full of wants and not identifying the true needs.”*

Ott, who maintained during months of grueling budget deliberations that he wanted to see more proposed spending cuts before he would support any increase, mentioned only one benefit for District 2:

“1 DOT work crew”

Included in the $454 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2019 is $1.4 million for Cobb DOT mowing crews, which had been reduced to one countywide during the recession. Each of the four commission districts will have a dedicated crew, and the operations will be moved in-house for year-round work.

The county has been outsourcing mowing crews for $1.1 million a year, but they worked only for six months, from spring to fall.

Commissioners have said that constituents have complained about overgrown medians and rights-of-way as much as almost anything.

Related coverage

A few highlights from Ott’s budget adoption-night comments include his opposition to how the need tax hike was presented and his frustration that previous proposals to fund new police cars and find budget savings were ignored, as well as his concerns over looming pension obligations. Ott supports moving from a defined benefit system to a defined contribution plan:

I am disappointed in how the need for a tax increase has been presented. Putting forward to the residents the closure of the busiest parks, the busiest libraries, extension services, 4-H and Master Gardeners. This tugged on the heartstring of all residents, young and old, and the mission became ‘save us’ and the focus was off what the budget is actually made up of.

I too have had many emails and calls; not a day goes by where I get into work and there are another batch of emails. I am not here to tell you the ratio of those for and those against but here is my take away – when I write back to them or call them back I explain my position, I tell them that the services that are being threatened to be taken away were never proposals that came before the board. If they took the time to think about this – why would the board continue to buy more park space if the intent was to close parks, why are new libraries being built only to close them?

I proposed in the 2016 SPLOST that 9 million additional dollars be added to buy the police even more new vehicles than originally proposed. This was removed to pay for other’s wants of things not the NEEDS of the county. I even agreed to less money for District 2 sidewalks to pay for these cars and I was turned down.

When we had the [budget] retreat in October Commissioner Weatherford and I came up, on our own, [with] a way to save 50 million out of the budget. Some of my proposals were to consolidate the libraries that are under-used, outsource some departments in the County and to work on transportation to run fewer buses, maximize their capacity and look at the utilization of UBER and LYFT vouchers to take people to the main lines of the fixed routes.

None of our proposals or plans are included in this budget.

To all county staff, I value you and I do think that you work hard at your jobs. I am not the bad person when I talk about your pension. I will never agree to take what you have earned and put into your pension, but this pension plan has to change, it is simply not sustainable in its current form. I proposed a change 4 years ago. The pension is at its worst funding level it has ever been. Many companies have changed – large multi-billion companies that were hit hard in the recession changed – but not Cobb.

I proposed in this budget discussion to stop funding this type of pension – this does not mean that the employees lose what they put into their plan. It will be there when you retire. But the county needs to move into a 401K plan where the county can put in a percentage and the employees can put in money that they feel is appropriate to reach their goal in retirement. The money will then be yours and in your name.

You can read his full statment at this link, which includes further thoughts on employee salary increases, county vehicle replacement costs, additional police positions, libraries, parks and recreation, animal services and more.

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Scene in East Cobb: Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square construction site

August 10, 2018 5:16 PM by Wendy Parker

Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square

It’s all come down. Bulldozers have just about cleared what was left of the old Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square location on Johnson Ferry Road.

The construction site has been fenced off as work continues to build a new store that includes a double drive-through lane and a reconfigured parking lot.

The popular fast-food restaurant has been closed since July 6 and is scheduled to reopen in November, but a specific date hasn’t been announced.

Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square

Traffic in and out of the shopping center hasn’t been altered, as the construction vehicles (thus far, at least) have fit onto the work site.

Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square

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The 2018 Cobb schools teacher of the year is from Dodgen Middle School

September 5, 2018 2:02 PMAugust 10, 2018 12:08 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb schools teacher of the year, Fred Veeder — *Fred Veeder is overcome with emotion as Cobb schools supterintendent Chris Ragsdale announced Friday he’s the district’s teacher of the year for 2018. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)*

The Cobb schools teacher of the year presentation was disguised as something else for the seventh grade class at Dodgen Middle School Friday morning.

In order to keep a secret, and surprise the recipient, seventh grade teacher Fred Veeder, students were assembled into the auditorium and told they would be hearing from a Pearl Harbor survivor.

The special visit was even noted on the school marquee.

Veeder, who teaches seventh grade math, had been named the district’s middle school teacher of the year a couple weeks ago, and was overwhelmed and touched by the honor.

When the he took the stage Friday morning, his voice broke a little as he thanked his administration, fellow teachers, students and Cobb County School District staff.

“I feel so honored, so blessed,” Veeder said. “I feel like I have two families.”

Cobb Schools teacher of the year, Dodgen Middle School

As in his previous honor, Veeder mentioned his mother, a retired seventh grade math teacher herself (and who also was in attendance Friday) for help instilling the values and the desire to become a teacher.

After years as a gas station owner, Veeder finished his college education and began teaching at Dodgen 15 years ago. He said being named the district’s teacher of the year is an honor for the whole school, not just himself.

“There are so many wonderful teachers at this school that I have taken so many good things from” as a teacher, he said, his voice choking with emotion from time to time.

“It’s a blessing beyond belief. I don’t feel like this is just my award. This is Dodgen’s award, and I’m just a part of the family.”

Cobb schools teacher of the year, Dodgen Middle School

Veeder will next be in the running for the Georgia teacher of the year award. Other high-ranking Cobb schools officials were in attendance, as were East Cobb-area Cobb school board members Scott Sweeney, David Banks and David Chastain and chairman Brad Wheeler.

He was also thanked by Dodgen principal Dr. Loralee Hill, who has said of Veeder that he is ” a legend in our community.”

As the pep rally closed, she told him that “We are so blessed that you are here.”

Cobb schools teacher of the year, Fred Veeder

More East Cobb school news

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East Cobb Rotary Club raises 70K+ from Dog Days Run

August 10, 2018 8:24 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Rotary, Dog Days Run

Last weekend’s Dog Days Run was billed as a major fundraiser for the East Cobb Rotary Club, and the final tabulations are in.

The group estimates more than $70,000 was raised for a number of East Cobb and other local charities it works with, including East Cobb charities, including School Mates Literacy Project, Canine Assistance, Aids Awareness, The Center for Family Resources, Cobb County Public Safety and Kids2Leaders Inc.

Rotary Club member Don McCellan compiled this slideshow from the 5K event.

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East Cobb Pigksin Preview: high hopes abound for local prep football teams

August 9, 2018 1:24 PM by Wendy Parker

Walton football, East Cobb Pigskin Preview — Walton football coach Daniel Brunner welcomes back many talented players from last year’s 11-1 team including Dominick Blaylock (third from left), a star wide receiver who’s heading to UGA. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

At the East Cobb Pigksin Preview breakfast Thursday morning, high school football coaches took time out from pre-school weightlifting, teaching and other activities to share their thoughts on the coming season with community business leaders.

The breakfast was held by the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce at the Indian Hills Country Club. Coaches brought key players and school administrators also attended.

All six coaches from last season are back, after four of the six East Cobb high schools introduced new coaches last year. Here are brief overviews five of the coaches gave about their teams at the breakfast. Kell High School coaches were not in attendance.

Jep Irwin, Lassiter (6-4 in 2017)

Jep Irwin, East Cobb high school football — *Jep Irwin is in his 10th season as Lassiter coach.*

The Trojans will be without a seasoned quarterback for the first time in many years. “No one on our roster has any varsity experience,” Irwin said. One of those vying for the starting job “needs to step forward” to fill a leadership role and to provide confidence for the rest of the team.

“We lost a lot of seniors, the skill players on offense, and we will be young in the secondary.”

Lassiter is playing a home scrimmage Friday against Sprayberry at 7 p.m. Season opener is Aug. 17 against Harrison.

Brett Vavra, Sprayberry (2-8 in 2017)

The second-year coach said creating a culture of “old school football” has been the Yellow Jackets’ priority during the off-season, and they’ve addressed those changes in the weight room and with their strength and conditioning program.

“We want to become a more physical football team,” said Vavra, a former Sprayberry player. The team’s motto is “TPW,” or “Tough People Win,” and it’s about instilling mental as well as physical toughness.

Sprayberry was young last season, and graduated nine seniors. Now there are around 30 seniors, and 19 starters are returning.

“I think we have the tools to win some games,” Vavra said. “But we’re not just about wanting to win. We’ve got an awesome group of players who have been working hard. I can’t wait to see how it translates on the field.”

Tab Griffin, Pope (4-7 in 2017)

Zack Owens, Pope football — *Pope’s Zack Owens has signed to play college football at Georgia Tech.*

The Greyhounds reached the playoffs in their first season under Tab Griffin a former Pope player. Senior wide receiver Zack Owens, is a versatile two-way player, and pre-season practices have emphasized how to efficiently use his talents.

“He’s our go-to guy, he’s going to touch the football,” Griffin said, adding that Owens may see less time as a defensive back because of Pope’s grueling schedule. It calls for 10 consecutive games without a bye week.

Pope has 15 starters returning. “We want to take the mindset that we have a playoff caliber team,” Griffin said. “Our schedule isn’t favorable for that, but as I tell our players, that’s life.”

Daniel Brunner, Walton (11-1 in 2017)

After reaching the state playoffs, the Raiders will step into an even brighter spotlight in 2018. And not just because the Raiders have many of their key players returning, including UGA-bound wide receiver Dominick Blaylock.

On Sept. 14, Walton plays host to defending Class 7-A state champion North Gwinnett at Raider Valley, in a game to be nationally televised on ESPN. The Raiders were the only team to defeat North Gwinnett last season. Brunner said keeping distractions to a minimum will be essential. Walton football vs. Colquitt County

“It’s a good platform for our kids and branding for our program and for our sport in the state,” Brunner, a former Walton assistant, said of the North Gwinnett game. “But it’s all about the process” and keeping to a disciplined regimen for what could be another banner season in Raider Valley.

Brunner said of 2017, his first year at the helm, “we had a successful season because we didn’t have drama.”

One concern he has is that Walton will be young and inexperienced on the offensive line.

Michael Collins, Wheeler (2-8 in 2017)

“We were rebuilding last year with lots of young guys,” Collins said. But the Wildcats were competitive in some of those close games they lost, and he’s looking for better results this year.

“I love coaching this team,” said Collins, who is starting his 10th season at Wheeler. “They’re young, and they have very high character.”

Wheeler opens the season on Aug. 17 at Lambert and plays its first home game the following week in its traditional East Cobb rivalry against Sprayberry.

More East Cobb sports news

Sandy Plains baseball team reaches Cooperstown finals

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East Cobb Business Association seeking donors, sponsors for public safety appreciation dinners

August 9, 2018 11:15 AM by Wendy Parker

*Precinct 4 officers honored at the East Cobb Business Association’s Public Safety Appreciation Dinner in 2017. (East Cobb News file photo)*

The East Cobb Business Association is once again organizing public safety dinners for Cobb police and firefighters, and is asking for financial and prize donations and sponsorships.

The dinner for Precinct 4 police personnel is in the fall, and for county firefighters in April.

Susan Hampton and Kim Paris, co-chairs of the dinner, have sent out an appeal, and here’s more about the level of community involvement in the event:

We are blessed to live, work and raise our families in this wonderful community. We appreciate the continued support of The East Cobb Business Association, event host, and the presenting sponsor, WellStar East Cobb Health Park. Both are represented on the event committee that also includes individuals from East Cobb community-based groups including the Cobb Chamber’s East Cobb Area Council, East Cobb Citizen of the Year award recipients, area civic clubs, and representatives from both the police and fire departments.

We are delighted to continue to work together to plan these appreciation events, and to raise the funds necessary to insure their success. We are reaching out to individuals, businesses, civic and other nonprofit organizations, schools, neighborhoods and churches, and hope you will join us in support of our Public Safety heroes!

Monetary donations can be made in any amount, and for $25 individuals will be identified with a “Thank a Hero” card delivered to public safety honorees at the events.

Here’s more about donating and sponsoring, which run from $250 (silver), $500 (gold) and $1,000 (platinum). There’s also an online sign-up form and other information at that link.

Related coverage

2017 East Cobb public safety appreciation dinner

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Long-delayed Wigley Road rezoning case clears initial hurdle

August 8, 2018 3:21 PM by Wendy Parker

After more than a year of delays, the Cobb Planning Commission Tuesday recommended approval of a Wigley Road rezoning case that would convert hilly, rocky former farm terrain into a single-family subdivision.

The commission vote was 4-1 in favor of an application by Oak Hall Companies for single-family homes on 96 acres on what once was the Wigley family farm. The land abuts the Cherokee County line to the north, and is north of Sweat Mountain, Jamerson Road and Summitop Road.

The planning board initially heard the case in May but placed a 60-day hold on the application, which was once again delayed in July.

The developer wanted to build 95 homes for a community to be called Provence Estates, but the commissioners recommended 91 instead. Parks Huff, an attorney for Oak Hall, noted the rarity of a proposal for single-family homes that is around one to an acre.

Since the planning board recommended the R-30 OSC category, roughly half the tract would be placed in a conservation easement.

The land is from the estate of Audra Mae Wigley and was part of the Wigley Farm in Northeast Cobb. Initially, the Oak Hall application was for 55 acres, but both pieces of the former farm property were put together in a single request earlier this year.

Some neighbors were opposed for traffic as well as for stormwater runoff issues, and it was a factor outgoing planning commissioner Thea Powell cited for her vote against the request.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners will have the final say on the rezoning request on Aug. 21.

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Davis ES, Dodgen MS named National PTA Schools of Excellence

August 8, 2018 12:50 PM by Wendy Parker

Press release from the Cobb County School District:

The National PTA organization recently named three Cobb schools as Schools of Excellence for 2018-2020: Davis Elementary School, King Springs Elementary School, and Dodgen Middle School.

The three Cobb schools were among only 278 schools nationwide to achieve the recognition for helping to empower parents to support student success. Cobb’s PTA Schools of Excellence accounted for almost 18 percent of the Georgia schools on the list.

According Davis Elementary PTA Co-President, Melissa Monroe, the award is a direct reflection of the hard work done by their community to help make Davis Elementary such a special place.

“This award recognizes the efforts of all our many volunteers and families who work together to help strengthen relationships at our school. Davis PTA hopes to continue building an environment where all families feel welcomed and empowered. The success of our students is our number one priority, and PTA is thrilled to have such a strong relationship with the school,” Monroe said.

The President of the National PTA, Jim Accomando, reinforced Monroe’s thoughts in his own statement, “Research shows that when families and schools work together, students do better in school and schools improve. Davis Elementary, King Springs Elementary and Dodgen Middle and their PTA and PTSA programs have worked hard to strengthen their family-school partnership and create an environment where all families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success. We are pleased to recognize them as National PTA Schools of Excellence.”

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Powers Ferry Restaurant Row project gets Cobb Planning Commission OK

August 7, 2018 9:52 PMAugust 7, 2018 5:22 PM by Wendy Parker

A rezoning to allow a Powers Ferry Restaurant Row project that would raze mostly empty commercial property was recommended for approval Tuesday by the Cobb Planning Commission.

The board voted 4-1 to recommend a request by Powers Ferry Road Investors, LLC, to rezone 8.8 acres to regional retail commercial (RRC) from the current general commercial (GC) category.

East Cobb softball teams start high school sports season

August 7, 2018 4:08 PMAugust 7, 2018 3:14 PM by Wendy Parker

The Sprayberry Yellow Jackets will start another season of high school sports as East Cobb softball teams swing into action this week.

The Yellow Jackets are playing at home tonight at 7 against Sequoyah, following a JV game between the two schools at 5:30 p.m.

Clay Ardeeser, Sprayberry softball coach, East Cobb softball teams — *Clay Ardeeser, new Sprayberry softball coach*

Sprayberry is coming off a 10-15 season in 2017 and will have a new coach. He is Clay Ardeeser, a former baseball assistant coach at North Springs High School, and his appointment was announced July 22.

After several away games over the next week, Sprayberry returns home Aug. 14 to play Osborne.

On Wednesday, the Pope Greyhounds also open their season at home at Harrison at 5:30 p.m.

Pope, a longtime state powerhouse, is coming off a 30-6 record, which was its best winning percentage for a season in school history, and earned a trip to the Class 6-A finals in Columbus. But the Greyhounds lost several standout players to graduation.

They do have four players who were named to the 7-AAAAAA All-Region team: third baseman Zoe Laneaux, pitchers Hallie Adams and Trinity Pizzutti and shortstop Gracie Kittrell.

Laneaux and Adams were both named 1st team All-State in 2017 by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and Adams was named Cobb County Pitcher of the Year.

This is the 12th season for Pope coach Chris Turco, who is 241-125-2.

The other East Cobb teams will either start their seasons or play their home openers next week.

Kell plays at home next Monday against Hiram.

Lassiter is home to Brookwood on Tuesday, Aug. 14, and Walton is home against Norcross the same day.

Wheeler’s home opener is next Wednesday, Aug. 15, against Riverwood.

More East Cobb sports news

East Cobb Pigskin Preview breakfast returns

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Mountain View Arts Alliance to hold Pete Borden memorial event in October

August 7, 2018 12:24 PM by Wendy Parker

In October the Mountain View Arts Alliance will be honoring the memory of Pete Borden, a longtime East Cobb resident who was actively involved in community theater. Pete Borden, Mountain View Arts Alliance

The memorial event will take place Oct. 10 from 7-9 p.m. at The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road), and will include the unveiling of a memorial stone hand crafted by local artist Julie Mazzoni.

Borden died in March at the age of 81 from lung cancer.

Born in Texas and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Borden was a brick mason by profession and active in Cobb theater organizations, including The Art Place, as a playwright, director and actor. He also was a member of the Catholic Church of St. Ann in East Cobb.

Borden also wrote a regular column for many years in The Marietta Daily Journal and advocated for local arts and theater organizations in that space.

Shortly after his death, the MDJ reprinted one of Borden’s columns from 2012, as he recalled an early 1990s flap on the Cobb Board of Commissioners over arts funding and an anti-gay resolution that cost Cobb County its official 1996 Olympics participation.

In a message on its Facebook page about the memorial event, the MVAA said:

If you would like to perform a scene or song or skit or even a roast tributing Pete, please advise and we will put together a program.

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Fired Cobb Planning Commissioner Thea Powell comments at final meeting

August 7, 2018 9:21 PMAugust 7, 2018 10:00 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Planning Commissioner Thea Powell, who said she was being replaced by Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, offered some remarks Tuesday morning before her last meeting.

An East Cobb resident who also served twice on the Cobb Board of Commissioners, said she received a letter from Boyce on July 26 notifying her of her termination, effective at the end of August.

She said Boyce had never expressed to her any disagreements about her votes on zoning issues, and said no reason was given for her firing. Powell noted that the letter came not long after she spoke out as a citizen against his proposed property tax increase.

In her comments, Powell made references to freedom of speech, saying that “no government should have the arrogance to believe that it alone knows what is in the best interest of its citizens.”

She thanked her colleagues on the five-member Planning Commission, who are appointed by county commissioners, and urged them “to continue to listen to all who come before” them.

She also thanked the county zoning staff and citizens and said “you have and will continue to make a difference.”

At the last public hearing before the budget was adopted, on Aug. 17, Powell referred to budget presentation information supporting a tax increase “a dog’s breakfast.”

She said that in spite of a 1.7-mills increase in the general fund that Boyce had sought in a record tax digest year, the county was spending more money than it had, and feared there may a repeat of the same situation next year.

(Commissioners voted 3-2 to raise the millage rate in adopting a $454 million budget).

Powell has a long history of public and civic service in Cobb County, starting with the East Cobb Civic Association. She served as a commissioner from Northeast Cobb’s District 3 from 1988-91 and also on an interim basis in the same post in 2010 when Tim Lee resigned to run for chairman.

Powell served on the Cobb Development Authority after being appointed by East Cobb Commissioner Bob Ott. In 2011, he tried having her appointed to the Cobb Citizens’ Oversight Committee.

At the time, there was speculation that she might run against Lee in 2012 (she did not), and her nomination was thwarted by the commissioners. Ott later hired her as his full-time staff assistant.

Powell also was appointed by Cobb Board of Education member David Chastain to serve on the school district’s Facilities and Technology advisory board. In 2016, she was a campaign adviser to Boyce in 2016, when he upended Lee.

After he took office, Boyce appointed her to the planning commission. Powell said Tuesday she looks forward to “having the opportunity to use my freedom of speech unencumbered.”

Some of Powell’s supporters have created an online petition.

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‘Chancer’ author Donnie Kanter Winokur to make East Cobb book signing appearance Aug. 19

August 7, 2018 1:34 PMAugust 6, 2018 8:13 PM by Wendy Parker

Donnie Kanter Winokur, a Roswell-based author, is signing copies of her 2017 book, “Chancer: How One God Boy Saved Another,” in East Cobb later this month.

The event is Aug. 19 from 3-5 p.m. at the offices of Georgia Veterinary Rehabilitation & Pain Management. 230 Johnson Ferry Place, Suite J-70. Books will be available for purchase, and refreshments will be served.

The book tells the story of the bond between Chancer, a Golden Retriever service dog, and her Russian-born adopted son, who had been diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. The story gained national attention thanks to a 2012 story in The New York Times Magazine by acclaimed Atlanta author Melissa Fay Greene.

Now Winokur, author of two previous children’s books, has expanded and updated the story. The East Cobb event will include a demonstration with Quinn, Iyal Winokur’s current certified service dog.

Writes Winokur in her book:

“While our life remains more chaotic than not, we continue to land on our blistered feet, drag each other out of the quicksand, beg for forgiveness as we wander out of the doghouse, and dig for the humor beneath our grief. So our family, four-pawed members included, continues to bound forward celebrating our canine connection and sharing hope with all who need healing.”

More about the story of Chancer and the book can be found here, as well as Winokur’s previous works.

Cobb Police National Night Out is Tuesday; Coffee With a Cop returns to East Cobb Wednesday

August 6, 2018 12:45 PM by Wendy Parker

A couple of community-oriented events are coming up with Cobb Police this week, starting with National Night Out from 5-9 Tuesday at Jim Miller Park (2245 Callaway Road, Marietta). Here’s what will be going on: Cobb Police National Night Out

“This event is part of the continued effort to build and strengthen public safety personnel’s relationships with the community they serve. Admission is free and everyone is invited to enjoy an evening of food, fun and entertainment. There will be public safety demonstrations, 15 giant inflatable and water activities for children, food trucks and live music. The School of Rock will perform on the main stage all evening. Also, there will be balloon artists, face painters, jugglers and magicians.

“National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes camaraderie to ensure our neighborhoods are safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It also provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”

On Wednesday, the Cobb Police Coffee With a Cop sessions resume in East Cobb. This is a chance to meet with police officers and ask crime and public safety questions. That session will be from 6-8 p.m. at Zaxby’s at 2981 Delk Road.

Another session takes place Aug. 17 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Sterling Estates East Cobb (4220 Lower Roswell Road).

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Jep Irwin, Lassiter (6-4 in 2017)

Brett Vavra, Sprayberry (2-8 in 2017)

Tab Griffin, Pope (4-7 in 2017)

Daniel Brunner, Walton (11-1 in 2017)

Michael Collins, Wheeler (2-8 in 2017)

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